Concerned with four proposed housing developments for the Central Business District (CBD) area, the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee suggested to the Planning Board this week that developers agree to update the CBD's current infrastructure issues as a "condition of their approval."

According to the village's traffic expert, John Jahr of Maser Consulting P.A., the developers have already agreed to improve aspects of the CBD's current transportation infrastructure.

"They want to work together to improve the traffic conditions," Jahr said. "They recognize they have an obligation."

In a Feb. 5 letter addressed to Planning Board Chairman Charles Nalbantian, Councilwoman Bernie Walsh, the committee's chairwoman, noted that in light of the proposals, several public safety concerns should be addressed in the CBD. The letter was read by Director of Public Works Chris Rutishauser, who is also a member of the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee, at Monday's meeting.

Among the committee's concerns are the "inadequate and outdated" stoplight intersections in the CBD, which are often catalysts for ongoing safety issues.

"Our recommendation to the board is a requirement from the developers, as a condition of their approval, to update these intersections," Walsh said.

The CBD's current pedestrian and traffic conditions are "unacceptable," according to Walsh, and the intent of the letter was to "advise the Planning Board of our concerns to ensure adequate improvements."

"The benefits of the development to the community would need to far outweigh the detriments," she noted.

The committee also recommended the adoption of a Traffic Improvement District (TID), a special funded district for improving transportation infrastructure in the CBD, and desired that "all modes of transportation be considered within the public right of way."

With an increased amount of school-age children walking to and from school, the "safest and most direct route to schools" should be established, the committee said. Following the reading of the letter, village officials |discussed the developers' interest in improving the current traffic |situation.

"I see this as an opportunity to address the entirety of the CBD," said Mayor Paul Aronsohn.

Village Planner Blais Brancheau expressed caution about making piecemeal changes and wanted a "comprehensive evaluation."

While the developers agreed to help alleviate current traffic issues, they denied that their proposed developments would add to the existing traffic problem in the CBD.

"Nonetheless, we do want to be a part of the solution," said attorney Thomas Wells, who represents Garden Homes Development, the applicant proposing the Dayton development on South Broad Street.

"That's what they think, but I don't agree with that," Jahr said after the meeting when asked about Wells' statement. During the meeting, Jahr noted that the only way CBD traffic would not increase was if the land "does not get used."

Resident Kevin Mattessich, who opposes the proposals "across the board," said he believes the projects would have a significant impact on residents.

"I don't want a contribution. What I want is an open check from developers," he said of the developers' expressed interest in improving the CBD. "It's going to hit [Ridgewood High School]. It's going to hit [Benjamin Franklin Middle School] ... I think when ||we look at this, we can't just take the rosy picture. I think we have to look at the worst case."

During public comment, resident Lisa Baney asked for some explanation about the method used to determine the amount of traffic the residential apartment complexes would bring to the |village.

"I'm just kind of confused how a car dealership could have anywhere near that many trips in and out," said Baney after Jahr offered a dealership as an example of a use that would generate more disruptive traffic in the CBD than residential housing complexes, which he said would be the least disruptive permitted use.

In response, Jahr and Brancheau said they would work to provide the Planning Board with an analysis for various approved uses for the properties - including not just residential apartment complexes, but also a sample of typical retail and office uses. For the village's comparative reference, this analysis would list traffic estimations for each approved use.

"I would only suggest a sample of different uses or worst-case or typical use," Brancheau said.

The information will be gleaned from the Institute of Transportation Engineers' Trip Generation Manual, which, according to Jahr, accurately predicts traffic totals for different land uses when various variables, including land size, are taken into account.

Concerned with four proposed housing developments for the Central Business District (CBD) area, the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee suggested to the Planning Board this week that developers agree to update the CBD's current infrastructure issues as a "condition of their approval."

According to the village's traffic expert, John Jahr of Maser Consulting P.A., the developers have already agreed to improve aspects of the CBD's current transportation infrastructure.

"They want to work together to improve the traffic conditions," Jahr said. "They recognize they have an obligation."

In a Feb. 5 letter addressed to Planning Board Chairman Charles Nalbantian, Councilwoman Bernie Walsh, the committee's chairwoman, noted that in light of the proposals, several public safety concerns should be addressed in the CBD. The letter was read by Director of Public Works Chris Rutishauser, who is also a member of the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee, at Monday's meeting.

Among the committee's concerns are the "inadequate and outdated" stoplight intersections in the CBD, which are often catalysts for ongoing safety issues.

"Our recommendation to the board is a requirement from the developers, as a condition of their approval, to update these intersections," Walsh said.

The CBD's current pedestrian and traffic conditions are "unacceptable," according to Walsh, and the intent of the letter was to "advise the Planning Board of our concerns to ensure adequate improvements."

"The benefits of the development to the community would need to far outweigh the detriments," she noted.

The committee also recommended the adoption of a Traffic Improvement District (TID), a special funded district for improving transportation infrastructure in the CBD, and desired that "all modes of transportation be considered within the public right of way."

With an increased amount of school-age children walking to and from school, the "safest and most direct route to schools" should be established, the committee said. Following the reading of the letter, village officials |discussed the developers' interest in improving the current traffic |situation.

"I see this as an opportunity to address the entirety of the CBD," said Mayor Paul Aronsohn.

Village Planner Blais Brancheau expressed caution about making piecemeal changes and wanted a "comprehensive evaluation."

While the developers agreed to help alleviate current traffic issues, they denied that their proposed developments would add to the existing traffic problem in the CBD.

"Nonetheless, we do want to be a part of the solution," said attorney Thomas Wells, who represents Garden Homes Development, the applicant proposing the Dayton development on South Broad Street.

"That's what they think, but I don't agree with that," Jahr said after the meeting when asked about Wells' statement. During the meeting, Jahr noted that the only way CBD traffic would not increase was if the land "does not get used."

Resident Kevin Mattessich, who opposes the proposals "across the board," said he believes the projects would have a significant impact on residents.

"I don't want a contribution. What I want is an open check from developers," he said of the developers' expressed interest in improving the CBD. "It's going to hit [Ridgewood High School]. It's going to hit [Benjamin Franklin Middle School] ... I think when ||we look at this, we can't just take the rosy picture. I think we have to look at the worst case."

During public comment, resident Lisa Baney asked for some explanation about the method used to determine the amount of traffic the residential apartment complexes would bring to the |village.

"I'm just kind of confused how a car dealership could have anywhere near that many trips in and out," said Baney after Jahr offered a dealership as an example of a use that would generate more disruptive traffic in the CBD than residential housing complexes, which he said would be the least disruptive permitted use.

In response, Jahr and Brancheau said they would work to provide the Planning Board with an analysis for various approved uses for the properties - including not just residential apartment complexes, but also a sample of typical retail and office uses. For the village's comparative reference, this analysis would list traffic estimations for each approved use.

"I would only suggest a sample of different uses or worst-case or typical use," Brancheau said.